AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES
Chair: Linda Oxendine
Faculty:
John R. Bowman, Manuel Conley, Richard Kania, Stanley Knick, Jesse
Peters, Robert W. Reising, Michael Spivey, Ralph L. Steeds, Jay Hansford C.
Vest
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke was established
in 1887 as an institution for Native Americans. Since 1953, it has had a multi‑racial
student body.
Because of its heritage, the University, through this
Department, offers a program to educate students about the rich diversity of
American Indian history and culture, to promote research and scholarship
concerning American Indian issues, and to prepare students for professional or
scholarly careers.
The Department offers a B.A., a minor, and an academic
concentration in American Indian Studies. Students are encouraged to select
courses that touch on as many different aspects of American Indian history and
culture as possible.
BACHELOR
OF ARTS IN AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES
|
Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree
in American Indian Studies |
Sem. Hrs. |
|
Freshman Seminar |
1 |
|
General Education
Requirements |
44 |
|
Major Requirements |
36 |
|
AIS 110
or 111 (or HST 110 or 111 ), 213 (or REL 213), 220 (or ENG 220), 360, 395,
405, 427 (or ART 427); |
|
|
Six hours from the
following: AIS 302, 324, 325, 340,
388, 401, 402, 425, 450, 455, 460 |
|
|
AIS
electives (9 hours) |
|
|
Electives |
39 |
|
|
Total: 120 |
ACADEMIC
CONCENTRATION
Academic Concentration in American Indian
Studies
For students seeking a baccalaureate degree in Elementary
Education, Special Education, or Physical Education, the Department of American
Indian Studies offers an Academic Concentration of 24 hours. Please see the
Department Chairperson for details about this concentration. This Academic
Concentration is available to other students, regardless of major.
MINOR
|
Requirements for a Minor in American Indian Studies |
Sem. Hrs. |
|
AIS 110 or 111 (or HST 110
or 111) and |
|
|
18 additional semester
hours of AIS courses or their cross-listed equivalents |
Total: 21 |
COURSES
DEPARTMENTAL (AIS)
AIS 201. American Indian Cultures
An introductory survey of American Indian cultural traditions through the study of film, art, oral and written literature, music, and religion. Fall. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 239. American Indian Education
A study of the history of Indian education policy and practice in the United States focusing on traditional tribal methods as well as contemporary federal, state, and tribal programs. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 302. Workshop in American Indian Studies
A workshop designed especially for elementary and secondary school teachers. Special emphasis will be given to aspects of Indian history, textbooks, and their treatment of the American Indian and contemporary Indian problems. Consideration will also be given to American Indian writers, to Indian culture, and to the changing lifestyle of the people. Topics of special interest will be discussed. General procedure will be determined by the interest and enthusiasm of the groups. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 325. Indians of the Southeast
A thorough examination of the history, culture, interaction, and present condition of the major tribes of southeastern America. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 340. American Indians and Film
This course will study a number of films which either focus on or incorporate the American Indian into their stories. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing the image portrayed and the historical perspective presented. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 360. History and Culture of the Lumbee
A study of the history and culture of the Lumbee Indians, the largest tribal group east of the Mississippi. While the focus will be primarily historical, all facets of Lumbee culture will be treated including the economic, political, and religious structure of the people as well as artistic and literary accomplishments. Spring. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 395. Archaeology in North Carolina
This course approaches archaeology as a way to learn about human beings. Special emphasis will be placed on prehistoric Indian cultures of North Carolina, and especially those of Robeson County. Topics will include: application of archaeology to present day issues; recovering and caring for archaeological materials; stages of Indian prehistory; theoretical and practical issues which face the archaeologist; etc. Weather permitting, some field excursions will be included. Alternate Fall. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 402. Federal Policy and the American Indian
A study of federal Indian policy from the Colonial period to the present. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours. PREREQ: Permission of the instructor.
AIS 404. Field Methods in Archaeology
In this course students will perfect proper use of field methods and techniques in archaeology. Topics will include site reconnaissance, systematic sampling of surface and sub‑surface materials, excavation, and record keeping. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hrs.
AIS 405. Contemporary Issues of American Indians
This seminar‑style course examines the principal issues of concern to American Indians in the twentieth century. Both national and local in scope, topics include: politics; economics; treaty relationships with federal and state governments; education; alcohol and substance abuse; the environment; cultural identity and survival; relation with non‑Indians; religious freedom; land and water rights; tribal sovereignty; and other contemporary issues as they arise. Alternate Fall. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 425. American Indian Women
This course will examine some of the historical, anthropological, sociological, and literary writings by and/or about American Indian women. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 455. American Indian Historical Sites
The Historical Sites Study will stress American Indian culture and will include visits to museums, reservations, and historic sites. As announced. Credit, 1‑4 semester hours.
AIS 460. American Indian Health
This course examines nutritional, cultural, demographic, and socio‑economic aspects of health of American Indians from prehistoric times into the present; these will be evaluated with a view to lessons for modern Indian health practitioners. Topics also include effects of European contact on Indian health, modern health problems in Indian communities, and traditional Indian medical practices. Alternate Spring. Credit, 3 semester hours. PREREQ: Junior standing or permission of the instructor.
AIS 499. Independent Study in American Indian Studies
Directed reading and research under the guidance of the instructor in a specific area or problem in American Indian Studies. Fall, Spring, Summer. Credit, 3 semester hours. PREREQ: Consent of instructor.
AISS 4xx. Special Topics in American Indian Studies
Investigations into selected topics in American Indian studies through the reading of significant books, discussions, and supplementary reports. As announced. Credit, 1‑3 semester hours. PREREQ: Permission of the instructor.
ART
AIS 427. North American Indian Art History (ART 427)
A survey course of the range of artistic expression of the North American Indians, from prehistoric to the 20th century. The course will cover paintings, sculpture, types of habitation, crafts, and ceremonial arts. Alternate Spring. Credit, 3 semester hours.
LITERATURE
AIS 220. Native American Literature (ENG 220)
A survey of literature produced by Native Americans. The course will cover fiction and poetry, and close attention will be paid to historical contexts and themes central to the understanding of Native American literature. Authors may include Momaday, Silko, Hogan, Vizenor, Welch, and Erdrich. Fall, Spring. Credit, 3 semester hours. PREREQ: “C” grade or better in ENG 105 and 106.
AIS 450. Seminar in Native American Literature (ENG 450)
A study of selected American Indian literature topics. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours.
HISTORY
AIS 110. History of the American Indian to 1865 (HST 110)
A survey of North American Indian history from arrival in the Western Hemisphere to 1865, with emphasis on intertribal and Euro-American relationships, prominent personages, political and economic developments, and adaptation to White culture. Fall, Spring. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 111. History of the American Indian since 1865 (HST 111)
A survey of North American Indian history since 1865, with emphasis on intertribal and Euro-American relationships, prominent personages, political and economic developments, and adaptation to White culture. Fall, Spring. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 324. Indians of Latin America (HST 385)
A study of the history, culture, and contemporary achievement of the Indians residing south of the Rio Grande. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours.
RELIGION
AIS 213. American Indian Religious Traditions (REL 213)
This course is designed as an introduction to the contributions that American Indian religious traditions make to the general study of religion. As such it is a survey of the religious traditions and practices of American Indians. Spring. Credit, 3 semester hours.
SOCIOLOGY/SOCIAL
WORK
AIS 105. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (SOC 105)
A survey of the various processes and conditions involved in cultural growth and change, including the relation between technology, religion, art, literature, language, and personality development. Emphasis is placed on human ecology and contacts between cultures. Fall. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 275. Siberian Origins of American Indians (ETHN 275)
Designed to acquaint students with those Siberian ethnic groups and cultures with which Amerindians have greatest similarity, the course will cover the interplay of natural ecological environments on cultural developments in the old world and new, and will examine the ethnographic, biological, linguistic, archaeological and historical features of Siberian cultures which bear closely on the origins of North American indigenous populations, including economic adaptations, food sources, arts, crafts, transportation, housing, technology, and languages of Paleo-Siberian peoples, to draw parallels to Native American cultures. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours.
AIS 388. Native American Populations (SWK 388/SOC 388)
Using a person-in-environment perspective, the social service delivery system is analyzed within the uniqueness of the cultural parameters of different tribal communities. Laws and regulations that affect social service delivery to Native Americans are viewed. Social problems that are common among Native American groups are also emphasized while equipping students with skills, sensitivities, and a knowledge base necessary to practice generalist social work effectively. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours. PREREQ: SWK 200 is recommended.
AIS 452. Meso-America Before European Contact (ETHN 452)
To acquaint the advanced student with the diversity of the Meso-American Indian cultures as they existed in Central America prior to the arrival of Europeans, using historical, literary and archaeological materials to disclose their advanced cultural developments, to examine critically some of the romantic myths and negative stereotypes surrounding the Meso-American Indians, and to better understand our own 21st Century views of Meso-American Indian cultures. As announced. Credit, 3 semester hours.